Dhaka, Jan 06 (V7N)  — The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants against 11 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Tareq Siddiqui, and former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed, on charges related to enforced disappearances.

The two-member tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, issued the order on Monday following a prosecution application.

During the hearing, Chief Prosecutor Advocate Tajul Islam argued that the Awami League government institutionalised a culture of state-sponsored disappearances. He claimed that those responsible for such acts were rewarded and that the trial aims to set a precedent against such crimes.

“This trial will serve as an example so that no one dares to commit such heinous acts in the future,” Advocate Tajul Islam stated. He also mentioned that justice would restore the credibility of the institutions implicated in the disappearances.

The Chief Prosecutor further alleged that several state agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Detective Branch (DB), Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC), and Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), were heavily involved in the disappearances.

The tribunal has directed law enforcement agencies to take immediate action to apprehend the accused individuals.

This development marks a significant move in addressing allegations of human rights violations in Bangladesh, with the prosecution expressing hope that the trial will uphold justice and accountability.

END/MSS/AJ